how to increase fruitfulness applying love. luke 13:6-9 “sir... i’ll dig around it and fertilize...
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How to Increase Fruitfulness
Applying Love
Luke 13:6-9
• “Sir . . . I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year fine! If not, then cut it down.”
Introduction
• Personal life– Heart– Thoughts, emotions and behaviors
Introduction
• Personal Relationships– God, family and friends
Introduction
• Performance– Talents, gifts and purpose
Introduction
• Where is the problem?– The fruit, the tree, or the soil?– Barren, failure, unproductive,
• Fruit is only a yard stick– Looking at the wrong thing
Introduction
• Contrast of the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:19 and 22
• “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. . .”
• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control”
Fertilize
• Three Components of Fertilizer – Nitrogen - Love– Phosphate - Grace– Potassium - Truth
Cultivate Love
• Two Greatest commandments– “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul
and strength” – Mk 12:30– “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Mk
12:31• “Love your enemies” – Mt 5:44
Cultivate the Love of God
• God is the source of love– “for God is love. . .” 1 Jn 4:8– “God shed his love abroad” Ro 5:5
Cultivate the Love of God
• Saturate yourself with God’s love– “Those who do what Christ tells them
will love God more and more” (1 Jn 2:5 TLB)
–Work it into your heart
Cultivate Love for Others
• We are Family– “. . .The love the Father bestowed on us
that we should be called sons of God” – 1 Jn 3:1
– “from the beginning . . . we should love one another” – 1 Jn 3:11
Cultivate Love for Others
• Fill yourself with good will• Prefer one another• Take pleasure in one another• Put your spouse / family / neighbor
on equal turf
Cultivate Love for your enemies
• “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Mt 5:44 (KJV).
Cultivate Love for Your Enemies
• Speak blessing on them• Find something good to do for them• Pray for them
Cultivate Love for Your Enemies
• Pursue growth– God uses adversity to develop character
– Roman 4:4
Cultivate Love for Your Enemies
– “Add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly love. . . They will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive” – 2 Peter 1:5-8
Application
• Good soil needs basic ingredients• Love is the most important– Love God with all your being– Love your neighbor as yourself– Love your enemies
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